Electric outlet device or socket



March 19, 1935.

A. F. wALLBlLLl-H ELECTRIC 4OUTLET DEVICE OR SOCKET Filed June 25, 1931 Patented Mar. 19, 1935 UNITED STATES PATENT l OFFICE ELECTRIC OUTLET DEVICEOR SOCKET Application June 25, 1931, Serial No. 546,752

2 claims.

This invention relates to an electric outlet or socket that may be attached to a wall or other support by means of screws and electric wires connected thereto so that an electric plug of a lamp cord or other electrical device can be inserted to make connections.

The device can be very economically manufactured from few parts that are convenient to assemble and are not likely to get out of order. In the manufacture of the devices provision is made for a plurality of screw holes (preferably two) by means of which the device can be attached to a support without danger of the same being misplaced or becoming twisted.

The invention will be understood from the description in connection with the accompanying drawing in which Fig. 1 is a plan view of the device; Fig. 2 is a side view of the same showing it connected to a wall; Fig. 3 is a side view at right angles to Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a View at the bottom of the device; Fig. 5 is a. view similar to Fig. 4 with the cover removed; Fig. 6 is a section along the line 6-6 of Fig. 1; Fig. 7 is a section along the line 7 7 of Fig. 1; Fig. 8 is a plan View of the cover and Fig. 9 is a side view of a contact member.

In the drawing reference character 1 indicates a body of insulating material, such as hard rubber or bakelite, for example, preferably circular in crosssection with extensions or lugs 2 at opposite sides. Counter-sunk holes 3 are provided through the lugs or extensions 2 for wood screws 4 by means of which the socket may be held to a wall or other support. Slots 5 may be provided along opposite sides of the circular portion of the body 1 for the passage of the screws 4.

A circular recess 6 is provided at one end of the socket 1 leaving a rounded projection 7 at the center, the end of which is preferably flush with the end of the plug 1, thus leaving an annular groove in the end of the socket whose diameter is approximately equal to the distance between the blade contacts of a plug, thus facilitating entry of the blades through openings or holes 8 provided in the socket 1 for this purpose. Shoulders or lugs 9 are provided in the holes 8 near the entrances thereof and V-shaped contacts 10 are located in the holes 8 with the points of Ythe Vs resting against the shoulders 9. One end of each side of each of the contacts 10 rests against a wall of a hole 8 and the other ends of these contacts are bent outwardly and are provided with a thickened screw-threaded portion 11 for the binding 'screws 12. Holes 13 are provided in the socket 1 to accommodate the screw-threaded portions 11 and the binding screws 12.

The socket 1 is cut away or recessed at its end opposite the recess 6 a distance equal to the thickness of the cover plate 14, thus leaving arcuate o rims 15 on opposite sides. Axially extending slots 16 are provided along the inside surfaces of the rims 15 to accommodate the end of the bent-out portions of the contacts 10 and heads of the binding screws 12. v l

Arcuate recesses 17 are provided along opposite edges of the cover plate 14 into which recesses the rims l5 on the plug t when the cover is in place. Curved projections 18 are provided along edges of the plate 14 to t into the slots 16. The cover 14 is of the exact shape of the corresponding end of the socket l except for the recesses 17 and curved projections 18. r

Screw-threaded holes 19 areprovided in the cover 14 through which the screws 4 pass. Radially directed, diametrically spaced notches 20 are formed at the ends of each rim portion 15 to provide openings for electric wires. A circular groove 21 is provided at the end of the socket 1 opposite the groove 6 to accommodate the wires 2 that pass through the slots 20 to the binding screws 12. In installing the device the screws 4 are taken out and the cover plate 14 is removed. Electric wires are passed through the openings n 20, laid in the groove 21 and connected by means "0 of the binding screws 12 to the contacts 8. The cover plate 14 is then replaced and the screws 4 are screwed in so as to extend through the cover plate 14 and into a wall or support 22 for the device, whereupon the blades of a plug of a lamp cord or the like can be inserted through the openings 8 to complete the circuit.

I claim: 1 y

l. An electric socket comprising a base of insulation material of circular cross section having extensions on opposite sides at one end thereof, arcuate rims on said base at said end intermediate said extensions, a cover plate shaped to correspond to said base and extensions, said cover plate having recesses along its edge to accommodate said rims, said extensions and cover plate having corresponding screw holes and said body having slots in its outer periphery in alignment with said screw holes, said base having axially directed openings therethrough on opposite sides of f the axis thereof, and contacts in said openings maintained in place by said cover.

2. An electric socket comprising a'base of insulation material of circular cross section having extensions on opposite sides at one end thereof,

arcuate rims on said base at said end intermediate said extensions, a cover plate shaped to correspond to said base and extensions, said cover plate having recesses along its edge to accommodate said rims, said extensions and cover plate having corresponding screw holes and said body having slots in its outer periphery in alignment with said screw holes, said base having axially directed openings therethrough on opposite sides of the axis thereof, and contacts in said openings maintained in place by said cover, said base also having radially directed notches between said extensions, and grooves in its end connected to said notches to accommodate electric Wires.

ANTHONY F. WALLBILLICH. 

